Three in one Go: “Chairman Xi Jinping’s firm and powerful words have once again made the world feel how China takes up the responsibility of a major power”

French President Emmanuel Macron’s and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s current visits to China were preceded by Spanish President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez. The latter was part of a one-afternoon triptych – but neither Sanchez nor the two other guests of Chinese State Chairman Xi Jinping were the holy guys. That would be Xi Jinping himself.

Xi Jinping meets Spain’s Prime Minister, Xi Jinping meets Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Xi Jinping meets Singapore’s Prime Minister: CCTV Evening News, March 31

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The following is my translation of an article first published by one of Xinhua’s glossy (online) brochures, named “First Perspective”. Links within blockquotes were added during translation.

This blogpost is followed by a quiz, so keep reading to the end.

First Observation | “The Three Concentric Circles” of China’s Diplomacy as cognizable from Chairman Xi Jinping’s Foreign-Affairs Meetings
第一观察丨从习近平主席密集外事会见看中国外交“三个同心圆”

[From Graphics]
第一观察 (“First Perspective”, a reader published by Xinhua), Issue 315
Produced by Xinhua’s Domestic Department
Produced by Xinhua First Studio
第一观察 ３１５期
新华社国内部制作
新华社第一工作室出品

The wind of spring is warm and kind. On Chan’An Road in Beijing, the Spanish, Malaysian and Singaporean flags are hanging next to the five-star red flag [i. e. the PRC flag] , fluttering in the wind. China warmly welcomes three important visiting foreign leaders.
春风和煦，北京长安街上，西班牙、马来西亚、新加坡的国旗分别同五星红旗并排悬挂、迎风招展。中国热情欢迎来华访问的三位外国政要。

On March 31, Chairman Xi Jinping met separately with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Great Hall of the People. A person in charge at the foreign ministry told reporters that with Xi Jinping’s meetings as a circle, three concentric circles can be drawn. When looking at bilateral relations, you can see that China has regional relations. It is important to take a long-term perspective to see the global significance of China’s recent diplomatic activities.
3月31日，习近平主席在人民大会堂分别会见西班牙首相桑切斯、马来西亚总理安瓦尔、新加坡总理李显龙。
外交部一位负责人告诉新华社记者，以习近平主席会见为圆心，可以画出三个同心圆，借此看双边关系、看中国同有关地区的关系，更要把目光放长远，看到近期中国一系列外交行动的世界意义。

(1)
（一）

The first concentric circle is about the level of bilateral relations.
第一个同心圆是双边关系层面。

This year is significant for China’s relations with Spain, Malaysia and Singapore.
今年对中国同西班牙、马来西亚、新加坡三国的关系都有着重要意义。

2023 marks the 50th anniversary China’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Spain. In early March, Xi Jinping exchanged messages with Spanish King Felipe 6th on the 50th anniversary of China and Spain establishing diplomatic relations.
2023年是中国同西班牙建交50周年。3月初，习近平主席还同西班牙国王费利佩六世就中西建交50周年互致贺电。

At the meeting [with Sanchez], Xi Jinping summarized the half-century experience of developing Chinese-Spanish relations as “adhering to mutual respect, exchange and dialogue, and proactively developing mutually beneficial cooperation”.
会见中，习近平主席用“坚持相互尊重、交流对话，积极开展互利合作”概括半个世纪以来中西关系发展的经验。

Setting out from the 50th anniversary, how can the good bileateral relations be developed further?
如何以建交50周年为新起点，进一步发展好两国关系？

Xi Jinping emphasized that “the two sides should persist in planning the two countries’ relations from a strategic perspective”, “build bilateral relations with strategic focus”, strengthen the development of strategic connectives, dredge cooperative potentials”, must do a good job at the Chinese-Spanish Cultural and Touristical Year activities, and promote the exchange of global civilizational dialogue and exchange”.
习近平主席强调“双方应该坚持从战略高度和长远角度谋划两国关系”“打造具有战略定力的双边关系”，“要加强发展战略对接，深挖合作潜力”，“要搞好中西文化和旅游年活动，推动世界文明对话交流”。

This year marks the tenth anniversary of China and Malaysia establishing comprehensive strategic partnership relations, and next year will see the 50th anniversary of China and Malaysia establishing diplomatic relations.
今年是中马建立全面战略伙伴关系10周年，明年将迎来两国建交50周年。

This visit to China was Prime Minister Anwar’s first after taking office. During this visit, the two sides reached consensus on the building of a Chinese-Malaysian human-destiny community¹⁾ which will surely open a new chapter in the history of our two countries’ relations.
此次中国之行是安瓦尔总理上任后首次访华。此访期间，双方就共建中马命运共同体达成共识，必将开启两国关系新的历史篇章。

Among the South-East Asian countries, Singapore is the one participating most deeply in China’s reform and opening, and the one whose interests are most closely in harmony with China’s. Chairma Xi Jinping used the words “forward-looking”, “strategic” and “exemplary” to characterize the two countries’ relations. This kind of relations also set an example for regional countries.
在东南亚国家中，新加坡参与中国改革开放程度最深，同中国利益融合最密切。习近平主席用“前瞻性、战略性、示范性”定位两国关系，这样的关系也为地区国家树立了标杆。

This time, the two countries have taken another step, elevating Chinese-Singaporean relations to a comprehensive high-quality, forward-looking partnership level, thus setting yet higher standards and goals for their bilateral relations. Chairman Xi Jinping pointed out that the Chinese side wanted to strengthen strategic connections with Singapore, deepen strategic connectives, and conscientiously turn “high quality” into a most distinct mark of Chinese-Singaporean cooperation.
此次两国更进一步，将中新关系提升为全方位高质量的前瞻性伙伴关系，为双边关系确立了更高的标准和目标。习近平主席指出，中方愿同新方加强战略沟通，深化战略对接，切实使“高质量”成为中新合作最鲜明的标识。

(2)
（二）

The second concentric circle is about the level of regional relations.
第二个同心圆是地区关系层面。

Spain is a member of the EU, and Malaysia and Singapore are China’s neigbors and also member states of ASEAN. At the three meetings, Chairman Xi Jinping discussed China’s cooperation with the relevant regions from different perspectives.
西班牙是欧盟成员国，马来西亚、新加坡是中国周边邻国，也是重要的东盟成员国。三场会见，习近平主席从不同角度谈到中国同相关地区合作。

China and Europe are comprehensive strategic partners, opportunities for one another, and common interests between China and Europe outweigh their disagreements by far. There is reason to believe that the European side understands this argument. But there is a precondition to develop Chinese-European relations well, which is that Europe maintains its strategic autonomy. That is precisely what Chairman Xi emphasized in his many meetings with European leaders.
中欧是全面战略伙伴、是彼此机遇，中欧间的共同利益远大于分歧。相信欧方也明白这个道理。但要发展好中欧关系，有一个前提，那就是需要欧方坚持战略自主。这也正是习近平主席多次同欧方领导人会晤时所强调的。

During the second half of the year, Spain will take the chairmanship of the European Union. Chairman Xi Jinping emphasized that he hoped Spain would play a positive role in promoting Chinese-European relations.
今年下半年，西班牙将接任欧盟轮值主席国。习近平主席强调，希望西班牙为促进中欧对话合作发挥积极作用。

In 2021, Chairman Xi Jinping made the “five proposals on building our home together” to the ASEAN countries. At these meetings with the two ASEAN leaders, regional cooperation has been an important part of Chairman Xi Jinping’s talks.
2021年，习近平主席面向东盟国家提出中国与东盟“五大家园”建设。此次会见两位东盟国家领导人，区域合作是习近平主席谈话的重要内容。

Meeting Prime Minister Anwar, Chairman Xi Jinping emphasized that together with Malaysia, China wanted to enhance Asian civilization, uphold strategic autonomy, hold fast to the original intention, support the central position of ASEAN, resolutely resist the cold-war mentality and confrontation, and join forces to build the common home²⁾.
会见安瓦尔总理，习近平主席强调，中方愿同马方一道，弘扬亚洲文明，坚持战略自主，坚守东亚合作初心，支持东盟中心地位，坚决抵制冷战思维和阵营对抗，合力建设好共同家园。

Meeting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Chairman Xi Jinping pointed out that we should cherish and safeguard the good Asian regional development momentum that hasn’t been easy to come by, jointly protect the regional peace dividend, and safeguard the correct direction of economic globalization and regional economic integration.
会见李显龙总理，习近平主席指出，我们尤其应该珍惜和维护亚洲地区来之不易的良好发展势头，共同守护好地区和平红利，维护好经济全球化和区域经济一体化正确方向。

During these years, the Asian region has maintained general peaceful and stable development, the good momentum of overall rise, all of which has been achieved by the people in the region, by their own hard work and wisdom. In today’s world of turmoil, the Asian peoples must all the more exclude external interference, and protect and develop their homeland well.
这些年来，亚洲地区保持总体和平稳定和快速发展、整体崛起的良好势头，这些都是地区国家人民通过自己的勤劳和智慧取得的，在当今变乱交织的世界，亚洲人民更要排除外部干扰，守护好、发展好自己的家园。

“We don’t allow any country to deprive the Asian peoples of the right to strive for a better and prosperous future.” Chairman Xi’s words were profound.
“不允许任何国家剥夺亚洲人民追求更美好幸福生活的权利。”习近平主席的话意味深长。

(3)
（三）

The third concentric circle is about the global level
第三个同心圆是世界层面。

At the tree meetings, the recent set of diplomatic actions taken by China have shown the world a China that is full of vitality, that maintains openness, but also shoulders responsibility as a great power, and, in a world of upheaval and change, provides more determinacy.
三场会见，连同近期中国一系列外交行动，向世界展现出一个充满活力、坚持开放、担当负责的大国形象，为动荡变革中的世界注入了更多确定性。

Just take March this year as an example, when Chairman Xi Jinping met several leaders from abroad who visited China, participated in the CPC’s dialog meeting with other political parties of the world and gave a keynote speech, and made a state visit to Russia on its invitation.
China facilitated the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China hosted the 2023 China Development Forum³⁾, and the Boao Forum for Asia⁴⁾ … …
仅以今年3月为例，习近平主席会晤多位来访外国领导人、出席中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会并发表主旨讲话、应邀对俄罗斯进行国事访问；中国促成沙特和伊朗恢复外交关系；中方举办中国发展高层论坛2023年年会、博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会……

A number of major moves and vigorous actions have attracted global attention. Recently, dignitaries, entrepreneurs, experts, scholars and delegates of international organizations have come to China one after another to take part in activities, vividly experiencing the vitality and pulsation of China’s development. The official three government leaders’ visits were in conjunction with the Bo’ao Forum for Asia.
一系列重大举措、有力行动吸引世界目光。近期，各国政要、企业家、专家学者和国际组织代表纷纷来华出席活动，真切感受到中国发展的活力与脉动。三位外国政府首脑，正是结合出席博鳌亚洲论坛年会对中国进行正式访问的。

During the meeting, Chairman Xi Jinping repeatedly talked about “Modernization with Chinese Characteristics”, thoroughly pointing out the global significance of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by means of Modernization with Chinese Characteristics.
会见中，习近平主席多次讲到“中国式现代化”，深刻指出以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的世界意义。

Facts have proven that the better China develops, the better it can share development opportunities with all countries, and make a greater contribution to the world.
事实已经证明，中国发展越好，就越有能力同各国分享发展机遇，为世界作出更大贡献。

At the meetings, the three foreign leaders discussed global peace and development respectively, from their own perspectives.
会见中，三位外国领导人从各自视角谈及世界和平与发展这个话题——

Prime Minister Sanchez gave a positive assessment of China’s position paper concerning a political solution of the Ukraine crisis and expressed his appreciation of China’s constructive role in a political solution of the Ukraine crisis.
桑切斯首相积极评价中方关于政治解决乌克兰危机的立场文件，表示赞赏中方为政治解决乌危机发挥的建设性作用。

In view of China’s recent successful facilitation of Saudi Arabian-Iranian dialogue, Prime Minister Anwar said that this once again shows China’s constructive role in the promotion of peace. He was deeply moved by the “extremely far-sighted” Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. Prime Minister Anwar said that Chairman Xi Jinping is a great politician with global influence who not only changed the course of China’s historic development, but who also brought hope for global peace and development.
看到近期中方成功促成沙伊北京对话，安瓦尔总理表示，这再次表明中方为促进和平发挥的建设性作用。感慨于全球安全倡议、全球发展倡议、全球文明倡议“极富远见”，安瓦尔总理表示，习近平主席是具有世界影响的伟大政治家，不仅改变了中国的历史发展进程，也为世界和平与发展带来希望。

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: “Singapore advocates respect between states, peaceful coexistence, win-win cooperation, avoidance of conflicts, and joint reactions to dangers and challenges.” Clearly, this is congenial with the new type of international relations advocated by China.
李显龙总理表示：“新加坡主张国与国应相互尊重、和平共处、互利合作、避免冲突，共同应对风险挑战。”显然，这同中方倡导的新型国际关系理念是相契合的。

At the meetings, Chairman Xi Jinping’s firm and powerful words have once again made the world feel how China takes up the responsibility of a major power.
会见中，习近平主席坚定而有力的话语，让世界再次感受到中国作为负责任大国的历史担当。

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Notes

1)	Aka “community with a shared destiny for mankind”, or “community of common destiny”
2)	Accidentally or not, “共同家园” is how Mikhail Gorbachev’s reference to a “Common European home” is frequently translated into Chinese. Xi doesn’t appear to be superstitious.
3)	Literally: “China Development High-Level Forum 2023”
4)	Literally: “2023 Bo’ao Asia Annual Forum”

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Quiz

Which country is featured in this article without being mentioned even once?

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China’s New Normal is the Old Decadent Normal

At some point during the past fourteen years of blogging, I began to feel bored by Chinese press reviews. They weren’t funny anymore,  or that’s how I felt about them anyway. They had been comical until spring 2012, if I trace the involuntary jokes back correctly, and then lost their luster.
But give a secretary-general of the Communist Party of China a lifetime job, and the fun will be back. A man with powers only held by Mao Zedong (and certain emperors) before him reopens the pandora box of ingratiation, sycophancy and loss of touch with reality that have made China great.

Xi speaking, cadres taking notes – CCTV evening news on July 24, 2013.

Here’s Xi Jinping’s vision of shared future, and its place in history:

Thousands of years ago, China envisaged a world where people would live in perfect harmony and be as dear to one another as family. Today, President Xi Jinping has given the world such a vision in the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Don’t get me wrong: the “One-Belt-one-Road” initiative has been a fairly clever approach to foreign relations. Even cold warriors like yours truly never hesitate to learn from fascists like Xi when they get something right. In the case I remember, in April 2015, on a state visit, it was just the right bit of ingratiation and – calculated, I suppose – loss of reality. (It was just Pakistan, and there was therefore no danger that the great helmsman would be overegging it. The loss of reality was Pakistan’s problem, not Xi’s.)
But it’s a different story for China when Xi’s subjects sing the praise of their overlord. Extreme flattery is where madness sets out from, and loss of reality is how it continues. Or, in the words of Jacques Ellul, a French sociologist and theologican (1912 – 1994)^*),

In an article in Pravda in May 1957, the Chinese writer Mao Dun wrote that the ancient poets of China used the following words to express the striving of the people toward a better life:
“The flowers perfume the air, the moon shines, man has a long life.” And he added: “Allow me to give a new explanation of these poetic terms. The flowers perfume the air — this means that the flowers of the art of socialist realism are incomparably beautiful. The moon shines — this means that the sputnik has opened a new era in the conquest of space. Man has a long life — this means that the great Soviet Union will live tens and tens of thousands of years.”

Ellul’s comment:

When one reads this once, one smiles. If one reads it a thousand times, and no longer reads anything else, one must undergo a change. And we must reflect on the transformation of perspective already suffered by a whole society in which texts like this (published by the thousands ) can be distributed and taken seriously not only by the authorities but by the intellectuals. This complete change of perspective of the Weltanschauung is the primary totalitarian element of propaganda.

One might object that this isn’t funny at all. I can see that point, and I can even feel a bit of the pain myself. But I also believe that the most comical stories grow in the most terrifying gardens. Chinese propaganda is making fun of itself  again – not because of a sense of self-irony (there’s nothing like that), but because Chinese public life has become living satire again.
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Notes

*)	Jacques Ellul: “Propaganda – the Formation of  Men’s Attitudes”, New York, 1968, 1973

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Headlines: Guanchazhe, Shanghai, July 24

Guanchazhe, headlines at 07:30 UTC

(1)	Actual Guanchazhe article there. Wikipedia has a useful article in English on Wentian space laboratory cabin module
(2)	Link
(3)	It’s more of a rant (you wouldn’t need academics for that, but it probably looks more authoratitve this way). The article may contain some news for you however if you believe that Western sanctions against Russia are happily supported (or admired) everywhere else in the world

Cute Pandas and Lovely Tanks – CRI and CGTN cover Russia’s War in Ukraine

How is our motherland doing, comrades?
CRI Russian / CGTN Russian war coverage

I don’t speak Russian, but it seems that China Radio International’s (CRI) coverage leaves nothing to be desired when you want to be kept up to date with your country’s war in Ukraine (without too much disturbing news, I suppose). The first 25 minutes of CRI’s Russian program at 17:00 UTC on Sunday were all about Donbas, with a CGTN correspondent reporting from there.

CRI might have dispatched its own correspondents a few years ago, when the station was actually an organization in its own right, and quite a fiefdom at that. CRI’s then director, Wang Gengnian, even delivered his own annual new-year address.

Some adjustments for synergy were called for, and the central committee delivered, early in 2018, by amalgamating CRI, CPBS (domestic radio) and television into a “Central Radio and Television Network” (中央广播电视总台).   Some three years later, many CRI language broadcasts on shortwave were replaced by mere music loops or endless repetitions of always-the-same cultural programs.

Taiwan’s government appeared to have similar plans for Radio Taiwan International (RTI) – not to take them off the airwaves, but to create an tri-medial organization, integrating RTI, Taiwan’s national newsagency CNA, and public television. Instead, RTI got a new director-general, and its Spanish, French and Korean services returned to shortwave from a mere online existence.

Now, questions are occasionally asked which plan for RTI was better – the one devised in 2018 or the one actually implemented in 2019 and onward. In my view, starting an international television channel on the one hand as is done with “Taiwan+” and keeping RTI as a station focused on audiences in different languages looks like a comparatively wise choice.

For one, RTI might provide a pool of foreign-language speakers for television if need be. Also, if I go by my own fondness for radio, “Taiwan+” isn’t for me, and never will be. In fact, it’s nice to be spoken to in my first language by RTI’s German department.

But above all, developments at Radio Japan and CRI aren’t looking really promising. At Radio Japan, English is only broadcast on shortwave three times a day, and as for the news, that’s only a soundtrack from NHK’s global  English-language television channel. (You won’t even know who’s speaking at times, because obviously, you are missing out on the subtitles.) And while I don’t know what they are talking about in Russian on China’s foreign media, I seem to notice that there is a similar problem with the CGTN correspondent’s contributions that are also used by CRI, i. e. by “Central Radio and Television Network” foreign-radio channel. The correspondent, Kirill Volkov, seems to interview a number of people for his video productions, but as a listener, you can only guess who he is talking to.

It is easy to think that CRI’s German service has lost some of its (not too numerous anyway) German listeners after leaving shortwave, along with many other CRI language services. The German editorial department’s current trimedial attempts at agitating their listeners in China’s favor may be good for a laugh every now and then, but contrary to CRI’s radio productions in the past, these days’ online content is useless.

“Some US politicians behave more and more like
dirty swines!” -CRI German’s
“sharp commentary” online, January 2022

In that regard, one has to wonder why RTI has recently been busy with grandstanding of this kind. Reportedly, what really happened is that the same half-hour Russian program in Russian already in existence for Europe has been rebroadcast for an additional 30-minutes time slot on another frequency.

Stunts like the above seem to suggest that RTI’s directors are worried that the government might cut RTI’s budget.

That shouldn’t happen. If Taiwan’s government wants to raise its country’s “international visibility”, it can’t do without RTI, and it can’t do without shortwave. At least, Taipei better wait how “Taiwan+” develops before making cuts to the foreign-radio budget.

Press Review: Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Speech comforts the Bereaved

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Guanchazhe newsitems on home page today (Sunday):

1)	Tianjin is considerate — netizens, inasfar as their comments aren’t removed – praise the municipal authorities, including the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, for timely information,
2)	a woman whose brother lost his life in military service (in East Turkestan) got wet eyes when listening to Xi Jinping’s new year’s speech (清澈的爱、只为中国), and
3)	an academic currently in America who believes it’s in the Chinese genes to help each other.

Guanchazhe online, Shanghai, Jan 9, 2022–

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Xi Jinping’s “Inspiring New Year Address” in the Tibetan Media

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The following is a translation of a Chinese-language piece by “Tibet Daily”, the CPC’s party organ published in Tibet. It was also broadcast by PBS Tibet, even as late as on January 3.

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

The 2019 enthusiasm routine (Google search result)

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Keep in mind what the leadership entrusted you with. Put into practice the originally intended mission. — Chairman Xi Jinping’s new year’s message evokes wide-spread strong reactions among cadres and masses
–
牢记领袖嘱托 践行初心使命——习近平主席新年贺词在西藏广大干部群众中引发强烈反响
–
Published on Jan 2, 2022, 09:50:57. Source: Tibet Daily. Authors: Zhang Meng/Shi Jinru/Zhou Tingting
–
发布时间：2022-01-02 09:50:57来源：西藏日报 作者：张猛 史金茹 周婷婷
–
“What we experiencing in these flying times is an indomitable and prospering China. You find people here who inspire affection and respect, every day sees new development, and a cause passed on through the generations.” Once Chairman Xi Jinping’s new year’s eve greeting had been published on New Year’s Eve, it immediately evoked enthusiastic reactions among the broad cadreship and the masses. Everyone, one after another, said that Chairman Xi Jinping’s speech had been heartwarming and activating. In the new year, they will unite even more closely around the Party’s Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, keep in mind what the leadership entrusted them with, put into practice the originally intended mission, struggle for the construction of a united, well-off, civilized, harmonious and beautiful socialist and modern Tibet, so as to welcome the victorious 20th CPC National Congress with exceptional achievements.
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“在飞逝的时光里，我们看到的、感悟到的中国，是一个坚韧不拔、欣欣向荣的中国。这里有可亲可敬的人民，有日新月异的发展，有赓续传承的事业。”新年前夕，习近平主席的新年贺词一经发表，立即在我区广大干部群众中引发热烈反响。大家纷纷表示，习近平主席的话语温暖人心、催人奋进。在新的一年里将更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，牢记领袖嘱托、践行初心使命，为建设团结富裕文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化新西藏而努力奋斗，以优异成绩迎接党的二十大胜利召开。
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“2021 was a special year, with the 100th anniversary of the CPC’s foundation. It was also the second year for me as a teacher.” After graduating from Shaanxi Normal University, “post-95er”¹ Huang Jiapei came to Linzhi City 2nd Primary School as a music teacher. He says: “Xi Jinping mentioned that we must not forget the originally intended mission, so that it will carry us through². We can only succeed with an energetic mind and vigoroous action, by being sincere and conscientious. That’s the only way for us not to betray history, not to betray the era, and not to betray the people. As an educational worker who is both someone who “pursues his dream” and someone who pursues his dream by helping children, I deeply feel the responsibility I’ve taken. In the future, I will work with an energetic mind and vigorous action, sincerely and conscientiously, continuously improve myself, be dedicated and devoted to my work, to be someone who contributes to a beautiful and happy Linzhi and who educates ever more outstanding heirs of socialism.”
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“2021年是特殊的一年，是中国共产党成立100周年，也是我正式成为一名老师的第二个年头。”从陕西师范大学毕业就来到林芝市第二小学担任音乐老师的“95后”黄嘉佩说，“习近平主席在新年贺词中提到，不忘初心，方得始终。我们唯有踔厉奋发、笃行不怠，方能不负历史、不负时代、不负人民。作为一名教育工作者，我既是一名‘追梦人’，也是助力孩子们追梦的人，深感肩负重任。未来，我将踔厉奋发、笃行不怠，不断提升自己，敬业奉献，为建设美丽幸福林芝贡献力量，努力培养更多优秀的社会主义接班人。”
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“Chairman Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s Eve greeting that comprehensive moderate prosperity and casting off poverty is what the party owes the people. It is also a contribution to the world. To let everyone lead a better life, we can’t be satisfied with the successes we see so far. We still have a long road to go.” Huang Jiabin, first secretary at the Linzhi City rural task force at Beibeng Township‘s Gelin Village says: “To keep up ambition and wisdom is vital to prevent large-scale relapse into poverty. We will combine our advantages in a solid and practical way and do our utmost to help Gelin Village’s development.”
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“习近平主席在新年贺词中提到，全面小康、摆脱贫困是我们党给人民的交代，也是对世界的贡献。让大家过上更好生活，我们不能满足于眼前的成绩，还有很长的路要走。”林芝市公安局驻墨脱县背崩乡格林村第一书记、驻村工作队队长黄家斌表示，“扶志扶智是防止规模性返贫及助力乡村振兴的关键因素，接下来他将结合自身优势，扎扎实实、尽心尽力为格林村发展添砖加瓦。”
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“Chairman Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Eve message is full of power, inspiring the will of the people, and strengthening our confidence and determination to go forward.” Zhao Wei of a science popularization unit with Tibet Autonomous Region Science and Technology Association says: “During the past year, we have operated mobile science and technology shops in Shigatse, Naqu, Lhasa, Shannan and in other places. The science and technology truck gives basic rural farmers and shephard masses as well as young people an opportunity to experience the fascination of science in a nearby place, providing them with scientific knowledge to help citizens to improve their scientific qualities. Although some villages and townships are far above sea-level and have an adverse climate, we feel that it’s worth our efforts and our hard work when we see the curiousity and happiness in the faces of the masses and the children as they experience the basics of science. We are reviewing the past year and we are looking to the future. In the new year, we will take root in Tibet even more firmly, we won’t betray the era’s determination, we will dauntlessly advance, bravely climb the summits and constantly make new contributions to science and technology popularization in the new era’s Tibet.”
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“习近平主席的新年贺词充满力量，激荡人心，坚定了我们砥砺前行的信心与决心。”西藏自治区科学技术协会科普工作队赵伟说，“过去一年，我们在日喀则、那曲、拉萨、山南等地开展流动科技馆、科普大篷车巡展工作，为基层农牧民群众和青少年送去近距离体验科学魅力的机会，为他们送去科学知识，助力公民科学素质提升。虽然有些乡镇海拔高、气候恶劣，可是，每当看到群众和孩子们充满好奇的眼神，以及动手体验科学原理时脸上洋溢着快乐的表情时，就觉得所有的艰苦与付出都是值得的。回顾过去，展望未来。新的一年里，我将更加坚定扎根西藏、不负时代的决心，奋勇向前，勇攀高峰，不断为新时代西藏科普工作作出新的贡献。”
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“As we entered the new year, Chairman Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Eve address was most heartwarming. I felt even more inspired after listening to it. Here at Dekang Community, the residents also experienced a boost in their morale, being delighted and excited.” Song Yahang, resident work team member in Dekang Community, Lhorong County in Chamdo City, says: “In a blink of an eye, almost an entire year’s stay in Dekang Community passed by for me. Time and again I have experienced the vivid struggle of the residents by the things I have seen and heard as they were unearthed. I think they are models for the whole Dekang Community. It takes exactly hard-working construction workers like them to make Dekang Community’s future even better.” Song Yahang says that in the next step, it is planned to actively carry out activities to promote investment in the community, to let residents and business people filled with ideas, with the ability and willingness to work, take along those who want to help, to work hard to create a brand-new Dekang Community.
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“跨年夜，习近平主席的新年贺词最暖心，聆听之后倍感振奋。我们德康社区居民也备受鼓舞，欢喜雀跃。”昌都市洛隆县德康社区驻村工作队队员宋亚航说，“一转眼，我到德康社区驻村将近一年，我一次次把自己所看到的、听到的、经历过的一个个鲜活的居民奋斗史挖掘出来，我觉得他们是整个德康社区的榜样。正是有了像他们这样勤奋努力的建设者，德康社区的未来和明天才会更加美好。”宋亚航表示，下一步，打算通过优惠的政策积极开展招商引资活动，让真正有想法、能干事、想干事的居民和商人引进社区，实现一人带动一帮人，以点带面的发展模式，为营造一个崭新的德康社区而努力奋斗。
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Editor in charge: Li Xia

责任编辑：李霞

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Notes

1

born after 1995

2

While the CPC has put a comprehensive claim on being “the faithful inheritor and advocate of the outstanding traditional Chinese culture” rather recently, traditional sayings have always been part of CPC speech, though probably with varying emphasis through the decades. 不忘初心，方得始终 originally refers to Buddhism – the idea that the original intention is inseparable from the final fruit if the practice continues obliviously (according to “People’s Daily”, anyway).

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Xi Jinping in the Evening News

If you wonder why a discussion of a book about Xi Jinping in Germany was cancelled by the relevant Confucius Institutes, here’s the most likely answer: the book simply didn’t mention Xi frequently enough.
Learn from Chinese televion. The following are the first seven headlines (out of a total of 18) from Tuesday’s main evening news in China.

Already full of confidence:
CCTV News anchor Kang Hui

Main Link: CCTV Network News – “Xi Jinping visits National “13th-Five-Year-Plan” Technical Innovation Achievements Exhibition, emphasizes …”

习近平在参观国家“十三五”科技创新成就展时强调 坚定创新自信紧抓创新机遇 加快实现高水平科技自立自强	Xi Jinping visits National “13th-Five-Year-Plan” Technical Innovation Achievements Exhibition, emphasizes need to staunchly innovate and confidently grasp innovation opportunities, and to accelerate the implementation of self reliance in high-level science and technology
习近平对全军装备工作会议作出重要指示强调 全面开创武器装备建设新局面 为实现建军一百年奋斗目标作出积极贡献	Xi Jinping gives the all-army equipment conference important instructions, emphasizing the need for active contributions in the new situation to a comprehensive start into the building of weapons and equipment, to reach the [second]*) two-centenary goal
习近平致信祝贺人民出版社成立100周年强调 赓续红色血脉为推动社会主义文化繁荣发展 建设社会主义文化强国作出新的更大的贡献	Xi Jinping sends a letter to People’s Publishing House at its 100th founding anniversary, emphasizing that continuation of the red blood will drive the development of socialist culture and prosperity, and make new and still greater contributions to the building of a socialist and culturally strong country.
习近平致电祝贺米尔济约耶夫当选乌兹别克斯坦总统	Xi Jinping sends telegram to Shavkat Mirziyoyev to congratulate him on his election as president
习近平同巴基斯坦总理通电话	Xi Jinping has a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s president
习近平同巴布亚新几内亚总理通电话	Xi Jinping has a telephone conversation with Papua New Guinea’s prime minister
携手实现世界永续和平发展——习近平主席在中华人民共和国恢复联合国合法席位50周年纪念会议上的重要讲话引发与会中外人士热烈反响	Joining hands to achieve global sustainable peaceful development – Chairman Xi Jinping’s important speech on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China’s legitimate seat at the United Nations meets with enthusiastic reactions among Chinese and foreign public figures

If this interests you, maybe that (24 hours later) interets you, too – CCTV News Network, Wed, Oct 27:

Xi Jinping has telephone conversation with French president / Xi Jinping has telephone conversation with Uzbek president / Xi Jinping has telephone call with president of Equatorial Guinea / Xi Jinping’s keynote speech, “Staying Connected with the World and Abreast with the Times And Making Big Strides on the Path of Sustainable Development”, held at the opening ceremony of the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference, now published as a single-volume edition / Under “Xi Jinping’s ideological guidance of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era”, organize the Winter Olympics well, ignite enthusiasm for winter sports, promote participation of three-hundred million people in winter sports / Secetary-general Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to China Media Group on the launch of the CCTV Olympic Channel and the start of its digital platform meets with enthusiastic response.
(Only the first five, out of a total of 21 items.)
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Note

^*) I think that this must be the second “centenary goal”, because according to Xi, the first one has already been achieved.

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Guizhou Donkey: Make Yourself at Home

You can serve lousy food, provided that your guests aren’t used to anything better, or because you are their boss and they can’t choose. In either case, it will help when you serve that stuff in a cozy environment. Your guests can make themselves at home – mum cooks as badly as ever.

The same is true for “Huanqiu Shibao, the Chinese sister paper of the English-language “Global Times”. On July 21, they missed (probably sarcastically) a more innovative Western propaganda approach.

“America draws allies into political manipulation”,
Huanqiu Shibao, July 21

Several academics, the paper said, had stated in interviews that the U.S. and their allies, after failed campaigns concerning Hong Kong, Taiwan, or human rights, had now come up with accusations that China was behind cyber attacks. That was the Guizhou donkey’s weak trick.

Here’s the story in English, according to the Chinese online encyclopedia “Baike Baidu”.

Once upon a time, there were no donkeys in Guizhou. Nobody knew what a donkey was. Some day, a man took a donkey to Guizhou. He left it at the foot of a mountain. A tiger in the mountains saw the donkey from afar, heard it braying, and thought: “where does this monster come from? It looks awesome, and I’ll better keep a distance1

Some time passed during which the tiger saw the donkey walk to and fro and bray once in a while. Now the tiger thought: “pretty big pet, I don’t know what it can do, but let me see!”

The tiger approached the donkey unnoticed and touched it. The donkey became angry: “why the hell do you touch me?” Then he kicked with his hooves and missed the tiger two or three times. That’s how the tiger realized: “this donkey^*) can’t do anything but kick, he can’t do anything!”

So he opened his mouth to eat the donkey, but the terrified donkey shouted: “don’t get any closer, I can kick you!”

“Kicking people is all you can do,” laughed the tiger, “but I can eat people!” No sooner said than done.

That was turned into a proverb, describing how people manage with makeshift methods that aren’t special. In short: “the donkey’s skills are poor”!

In Chinese, that writes 黔驢技窮 (黔驴技穷, qiánlǘjìqióng), and qián, another word for Guizhou (maybe not exactly the same territory as what it is now), can also be found in a more classical version of the story (Chinese and English there).

So why does “Huanqiu Shibao” use this proverb?
a) “Huanqiu Shibao” skills are poor – they can’t do any better.
b) You mustn’t try to say anything better when it can be said in four characters.
c) It’s cozy (see introduction). No matter how stupid the message is, readers will remember Granny’s bedtime stories and find it trustworthy. They may even feel sort of tiger.

Not the way Granny told it – click picture for video
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Notes

^*) That’s what the Baike story says – maybe the tiger has gotten to know the donkey’s name, because he’ll only eat what he knows
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